To the Editor:

To be, or not to be?  

That is the question Shakespeare asked 400 years ago in “Hamlet.” Although often quoted, many don’t realize that the line is about Prince Hamlet contemplating suicide.  

Earlier this month, in this same publication, I read a notice about the screening of a documentary titled “Last Flight Home” at the Canton Unitarian Universalist Church. The notice said that the film documented, “the final days of Eli Timoner’s life once he chose to die.” The notice continued that after the film there would be, “group discussion circles,” where interested attendants could learn more about, “end-of-life care.”  

My heart broke. Hamlet eventually concluded that life, despite hardship, was worth living. It looked like this event was sending the exact opposite message to the elderly and infirm in my own community. I watched the film, and it confirmed my suspicions. The documentary concludes with its subject, Mr. Timoner, drinking poison on camera. The filmmakers encourage the audience to adopt the same course of action in the face of terminal disease. I stood outside the Church and protested this screening as it happened. I write here to commit my protest to our paper of record. 

I protest first against the film’s deceptive use of language. “End-of-life care” is not an accurate description of what the film advocates. “Life-ending care” would be more honest. I suspect it is precisely because it is more honest that it isn’t used. For how can “care” consistent with the Hippocratic oath ever help end life? If care can help kill, such a care makes the blood run cold. The documentary’s use of misleading language could fill a book, but I’ll provide just one more example here. The poison by which Mr. Timoner terminates himself is chillingly and exclusively referred to as “medicine.” 

I also protest the screening’s sacrilegious venue. The night of the film, I watched many kindly silver haired citizens of the North Country enter the Church to watch. How can it be that these good people were exhorted to self-termination in a building where stained-glass windows of Christ and His Holy Mother themselves bore witness? All during Lent!  

When Hamlet is first tempted by suicide, he resists the urge by reminding himself that God’s law is fixed, “[against] self-slaughter.” Perhaps the Reverend James Galasinski knows something Shakespeare and I do not, but last I checked fixed it remains. 

In conclusion? To Be! 

Silas Cuomo Smith
Norwood